Valcke’s removal from football employment also raises the issue about whether he now falls within the purview of the ethics committee which had been considering disciplinary action over alleged breaches of the code of ethics.

The opening of procedings followed the wrapping-up, by investigating chairman Cornel Borbely, of inquiries into allegations concerning Valcke. Borbely is asking for a nine-year ban from all football plus a SFr100,000 fine for “misuse of expenses and other infringements of FIFA’s rules and regulations.”

Valcke, through his lawyers, had denied all wrongdoing and ben offered the chance to state his case.

FIFA statement:

Dismissal of Jérôme Valcke as FIFA Secretary General

— The FIFA Emergency Committee decided, on 9 January 2016, to dismiss Jérôme Valcke from the position of FIFA Secretary General with immediate effect. Jérôme Valcke is therefore no longer the Secretary General of FIFA.

The employment relationship between FIFA and Jérôme Valcke has also been terminated.

Jérôme Valcke was provisionally released from his duties as secretary-general on 17 September 2015, and on 7 January 2016, formal adjudicatory proceedings were opened against him by the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert.

The provisional suspension imposed on Jérôme Valcke on 8 October 2015 and extended on 6 January 2016 continues to be valid.

The duties of the secretary-general will continue to be assumed by the acting secretary-general Dr Markus Kattner.

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